| 22 December, 2009 - The Hamilton community's sensitivity to its impact on the environment is reflected in several awards recently granted to the College by two national organizations. The College has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), for the renovated 40-year-old Kirner-Johnson (KJ) Building.
LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Another Hamilton campus building, Skenandoa House, had received LEED Silver certification in 2006, but Kirner-Johnson is the college's first LEED Gold certified building. Five other colleges and one secondary school in New York State have buildings that have been certified LEED Gold.
LEED certification of building projects is difficult to achieve, since the projects must meet or exceed myriad requirements. Five environmental categories are defined in LEED including: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. There are four certification levels: certified, silver, gold and platinum. It is Hamilton's policy to build all new structures to LEED standards, whether or not the college decides to seek actual certification, a process which has significant expenses associated with it.
Like other renovation and construction projects on campus, the Kirner-Johnson project includes energy-efficient mechanical systems, environmentally friendly materials and improved indoor environmental quality. According to Steve Bellona, associate vice president for facilities and planning, Kirner-Johnson will provide a 25 to 28 percent savings in energy due to its layout and architecture.
In the renovation of Kirner-Johnson, creating an environmentally friendly building was accomplished while still maintaining a dynamic building design. The building was selected for outstanding design and feted with a two-page spread in the Outstanding Design American School and University Portfolio for 2009.
Kirner-Johnson is home to Hamilton's social sciences departments. It also houses the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center, the Nesbitt-Johnston Writing Center and the Oral Communications Center.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
In another "green" initiative, Hamilton has purchased renewable energy certificates this coming fiscal year including 100% renewable energy for Kirner-Johnson. By purchasing 100 percent green power, Hamilton is also a member of EPA's Green Power Partnership. |
